This semester I completed two projects which melded my skills and practices as a history major with my intended future career as an educator in grades 6-12.
Midterm: Professional Presentation Project
Proposal:
My goal for my future career is to be a grades 6-12 social science teacher and the service-learning project I have proposed will include shadowing a teacher and assisting in their lesson by utilizing my skills as a historian to research the topics being covered. Therefore, I can see two paths for my midterm project. I could write a research paper on the topic or topics being covered during my service-learning project which would provide me with the framework to better assist and enhance the lessons on the days I will be shadowing the teacher in the classroom. Or I could create a lesson plan based on the research I do into the topic or topics being covered as if I were to take that information and teach it to my own future students.
Feedback:
This is a good approach, but remember for the midterm you only need to observe and put together a critique. In the final service-learning project, you will then be doing the work.
Final: Service-Learning Project
Proposal:
After graduation, I intend to immediately begin working as a public school teacher for grades 6-12 teaching social science. As such, it only made sense for my service-learning project to be completed at a public school, utilizing the skills I have been learning as a history major, to determine if this career path will work for me. In a classroom, there are always opportunities for empathy and respect to be shown when helping guide young minds on a path of learning and discovery. To effectively service a classroom, and the teacher in charge, I will need to conduct in-depth research into not only the specific topic being covered in class that day, but also into what it means to be a teacher.
I have made contact with a colleague in the school system, as I work as a substitute teacher in the area, and they have agreed to allow me to shadow and participate in their classroom. Typically a teacher is paid for a total of seven and a half hours of work a day, so we have agreed that I will join her for two days during the fall semester. The teacher in question provides gifted enrichment for grades 6-8 and covers a wide range of topics to promote critical thinking and creativity. For any activity or information relayed, a background or a history can also be conveyed. I propose to research the topics covered on those days and provide supplementary background and history on the subject. Furthermore, I will be learning what it means to perform the tasks of a teacher from the beginning of the day to the end. This will allow me to learn more about my future career and also provide a service to members of my community.
Feedback:
This sounds great. For the sl project, it is usually 3 hours a week stretched out over 5 weeks. You will have 5 journal entries. You don't have to complete it all in 2 days.